Parenting babies
What does my crying baby want?!
Check first that your baby isn't sick, hungry, dirty, tired, full of wind, too hot/ cold or just needs a cuddle.
Some babies feel comfortable when swaddled, some hate it. Some babies like to be sung to, others cry louder; some babies love to be rocked, others have to be held still; some babies love the shoulder hold, others prefer the cradle hold; some babies like to look at something shiny or look through a window, others feel nervous with this. Patient and positive parenting of baby means giving different things a try over the first few weeks and months, as they are all different.
Trust your intuition and always make a call for expert opinion if your baby sounds very distressed or in pain.
How do I get my baby to sleep?
Sleeping at night time is crucial to a functioning household, especially if you have older kids. Introduce your baby as soon as possible to the difference between night and day, make her crib restful and introduce a comforter pillow or teddy to keep her company. Reassurance is key to positive parenting, so a strong bedtime routine of bath - milk - calm music - story will work wonders as a cue and make sure when she is sleepy, she is put down in her crib and comforted there.
Baby play
Once your baby learns how to play, you can use a game to get through more difficult times, such as an unwanted nappy change. Choose a moment when your baby is happy, not tired or hungry. Sing a song or learn an action rhyme; she'll love ‘peepo' with a scarf covering your face, or peek-a-boo with her favourite teddy. Use your voice to engage her, pull faces to make her smile and gently touch her body in circles on her tummy, palms or cheeks. Smile a lot, laugh and use encouraging, warm tones.
Read on for our handy tips on how to be a good parent to newborns, toddlers, kids and teens!